Show ContentsBeelsbay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Beelsbay family

The surname Beelsbay was first found in Lincolnshire at Bilsby, a parish, in the hundred of Calceworth, Lincolnshire. This village was listed as Billesbi in the Domesday Book 1 and meant "farmstead or village of a man called Bildr from the Old Norse personal name "by" 2 Alternatively the name could have come from Beelsby, a village in North East Lincolnshire. Conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Beelsby, held by Godric the King's Steward, who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. At that time, Beelsby held 3 mills.

Early History of the Beelsbay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beelsbay research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1097, 1190, 1484, 1510, 1550, 1600 and 1604 are included under the topic Early Beelsbay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beelsbay Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Billesby, Billsby, Beelsby, Belsby, Bilsby, Bilbie, Bilsbie and many more.

Early Notables of the Beelsbay family

More information is included under the topic Early Beelsbay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Beelsbay family

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Beelsbay or a variant listed above: Clemence Byllesby, aged 19, who arrived at Ellis Island, in 1919; Henry M. Byllesby, aged 60, who arrived at Ellis Island, in 1918; Henry W. Byllesby, aged 55, who arrived at Ellis Island, in 1913.



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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